Board Members

Burt Hurwitz

President

Burt is an attorney practicing law in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Burt was raised on his family’s ranch in Meagher County. He attended Rocky Mountain College graduating with a BS in Political Science and went to the University of Montana School of Law. He was elected by his peers to serve on the Student Bar Association for all three years of Law School. His proudest accomplishment in law school was co-founding the Rural Advocacy League, a student group dedicated to raising awareness of legal issues affecting rural Montanans. After graduating in 2007, he practiced law in Great Falls and Billings before opening a law office in White Sulphur Springs.

Julie Graham

Vice President

Julie Graham is the Vice President Real Estate Manager of Valley Bank of Helena, Division of Glacier Bancorp. She has been in the banking industry in Montana since 1976 and has been involved in all aspects of the industry. Most recently she was Senior Vice President Real Estate Manager for Mountain West Bank in Helena from 2007-2014. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Florence Chrittenton Home and Services in Helena and is involved in local community organizations and events.

Andrea Davis

Second Vice President

Andrea is the Executive Director of Homeword which is headquartered in Missoula where it houses its Regional HomeOwnership Center and builds affordable housing around the state of Montana. She has been working to secure affordable housing in Montana since 2001 when she started with Homeword. From 2003 – 2008, Andrea led the development of five affordable housing projects ranging from housing for homeless veterans to new senior housing at the Missoula Housing Authority. Andrea is a native of the Flathead Valley, a University of Montana Alumni and cherishes the ability to contribute to a sustainably built environment in Montana by developing housing people are proud to call home and by providing tools for people to be self-sufficient and achieve their full potential. She currently serves as the Chair of the Mountain Line Board, represents Montana on the Advisory Council for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, and serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for NeighborWorks Montana and participates on the Public Policy Council for the Montana Nonprofit Association.

Jack Prothero

Treasurer

Jack Prothero, retired in 2001, sits on a number of public-service boards of directors. He served for three years as the president of the board of directors for the Montana HomeOwnership Network (dba NeighborWorks Montana). Jack served as a loan officer for Norwest Bank in Great Falls from 1977-1979, vice president of Great Falls Federal Savings and Loan from 1979-1989, and vice president at Western Security Bank in Great Falls from 1990-2001. Jack currently also sits on the Montana Board of Investments and NeighborWorks Great Falls boards. His knowledge of investment policy and practice and his deep financial knowledge helps guide the board in related decisions.

Mike Smith

Immediate Past President

Mike is Senior Vice President/Retail Loan Manager for Glacier Bank in Kalispell. Glacier Bank has branches in Kalispell, Whitefish, Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Polson, Eureka, Libby, Ronan and Butte. Mike and his family relocated to Flathead Valley in 2006 from Colorado where he started his banking career in 1986. Mike is also a board member for Northwest Community Land Trust, , Flathead Community Foundation and AERO.

Bruce Brensdal

Board Member

Bruce was born and raised in Plentywood, Mont. He graduated with a bachelor's in accounting from Eastern Montana College in Billings and is a CPA. He has been the Administrator for the Housing Division since July, 2000. This includes the Section 8 programs, HOME Investment Partnership and the Board of Housing. He was previously the Multifamily Program Manager with the Montana Board of Housing since June, 1995. During this time he managed the Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs, the Multi-Family Bond Programs and the Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) Program. He previously worked for the Montana Department of Revenue as an auditor for 5.5 years. Bruce sits as an ex-officio member of the board, using his knowledge of the state’s housing and financial issues help broaden the board’s understanding.

Tom Jacobson

Board Member

Tom Jacobson joined Rural Dynamics, Inc. (RDI) as Executive Director in September of 2003. His responsibilities include providing strategic direction for the development and administration of RDI initiatives, programs, policy agendas, and public relations efforts. He has led this 48 year old non-profit agency into expanding its financial counseling programs to assist consumers as they move along an economic continuum from dependence to independence. Along with financial counseling, RDI provides asset development programs which include free tax preparation, housing counseling, access to public benefits, IDA programs, barrier reduction, and financial education. RDI utilizes a systemic approach in its work and acts as a catalyst for regional partner development, advocacy, and policy development. RDI is instrumental in helping individuals and communities across the Northern Plains region recognize a vision for personal and collective economic growth through systemic change. Tom is also a current legislator in the Montana House of Representatives and serves on Taxation, Health and Human Services, and Fish Wildlife and Parks committees. He sponsored several bills promoting a state Earned Income Tax Credit, consumer protection, financial literacy, matched savings programs, tax reform, access to public land, and renewable energy.

Gina Marshall

Board Member

Gina Marshall is the Mortgage Sales Manager for Southern Montana and Northern Wyoming for US Bank Home Mortgage. Gina attended Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. She has been with US Bank since 2002 starting as a retail banking Branch Manager and moving into mortgage in 2007. Gina lives in Bozeman, Montana. She has volunteered and served on several local and regional nonprofit committees and boards.

Tori Matejovsky

Board Member

Tori Matejovsky is the Executive Director for Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC), a nonprofit community and economic development organization located in Wolf Point, and serving six counties in northeast Montana. Although born in Glasgow, MT, Tori was raised in Bellingham, Washington. Tori has family roots both in Wolf Point and Butte, MT, and returned to northeast Montana soon after earning a BA in Philosophy from Willamette University. Tori worked as a project manager for the Fort Peck Community College Agriculture/Extension Department in Poplar, MT where she completed the Leadership Montana program (Class of 2009) and LEAD21, a leadership training program for Land Grant University professionals. Prior to her position as Executive Director for GNDC, Tori was the Resource Coordinator for the Eastern Montana Impact Coalition (EMIC), a 16-county coalition formed to document the impacts and opportunities energy development has on the communities of the EMIC region. Tori is married to a Dana Matejovsky, a fourth generation farmer/rancher from north of Wolf Point. Dana and Tori have three young children – Annaleigh, Cash & Addison.

Katie Miller

Board Member

Katie graduated from Carroll College with a Bachelor in Communication Studies. Katie has been dedicated to working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes since 2005. She has been the Housing Resource Manager of the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority since 2010. As the Resource Manager she is responsible for; all stages of developing new Housing Resources with direct over sight of the Community Development Block Grant, the Transitional Living Center, the low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, Home Improvement Program, Weatherization Program, Flathead Head Finance Homeownership Program, Development and Construction, and the In-Take for Low Income Housing. Katie has also served on the MT/WY Tribal Housing Coalition.

Jim Morton

Board Member

Jim is the Executive Director of the Human Resources Council in Missoula. He has been an energetic advocate for low-income residents in all arenas for more than 45 years. He leads a nonprofit agency that serves three Western counties in Montana. The purpose of the HRC is to alleviate poverty and enhance the public health and welfare by offering opportunities for people to better their conditions. He received the Montana Housing Lifetime Achievement Award from the Montana Housing Coalition in 2007.

Heather O'Loughlin

Board Member

Heather O’Loughlin is the co-director of research and development for the Montana Budget & Policy Center. She most recently served as legislative director and counsel for Sen. Max Baucus, managing the Senator’s legislative team. Previously, she served as legislative assistant for six years, handling a broad policy portfolio including education, judiciary, banking and economic issues. Heather also clerked for the Senate Finance Committee, specializing in tax policy. She received her JD at the University of Montana School of Law in 2007 and her B.A. in Economics and B.S. in Business Administration – Finance from University of Montana in 2003. While in law school, Heather was a gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Regents, the entity that manages the Montana University System. Heather is originally from Great Falls, and now lives in Helena with her husband, Neal, and daughter, Madeline.

Michael O'Neil

Board Member

Michael O'Neil is the Executive Director of the Helena Housing Authority (HHA) which provides safe and affordable housing and related services to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled in the Helena, MT area. HHA housing programs include public housing, housing choice vouchers, tax credit affordable housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing for persons who are homeless. Michael has an extensive background in developing affordable housing, community facilities, and services across the state of Montana. He founded and led the Montana Home Choice Coalition, a statewide coalition bringing together the housing and disability communities to create better housing choices for Montanans with disabilities and seniors. Michael strongly advocates the view that quality, safe, accessible and affordable housing is the cornerstone of stable community living and a life of greater independence and dignity for all.

Jane Pavek

Board Member

Jane Pavek is Vice President and Community Development Manager, with direct responsibilities in Idaho and Montana and oversight of Utah, and Wyoming. Jane oversees the implementation of the Community Reinvestment Act by promoting Wells Fargo’s involvement in affordable housing, economic development, financial education, and community orientated programs and services.

Pavek began her banking career in 1993 with First Security Bank (purchased by Wells Fargo in 2000) in the Management Trainee Program. She worked as a Mortgage Loan Officer until October 1996, at which time she began her current position in Community Development.

Jane serves on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Community Reinvestment Corporation and NeighborWorks Montana. She serves on the City of Boise’s Energize Our Neighborhoods Vista Project Strategic Leadership Team; is a member of the Idaho Bankers’ Association’s Compliance and Community Development Committee; and the Idaho Financial Literacy Coalition. Pavek is a member and former Co-Chair of the Wells Fargo Community Relations Diversity and Inclusion Council, an enterprise-wide, internal council with a mission to foster and promote an engaged and fully inclusive environment for the Community Relations team.

Pavek holds a B.S. in Business with emphasis in Finance from Boise State University. She is a 2002 graduate of the Northwest Community Development Institute.

Peggy Trenk

Board Member

Peggy Trenk is an association management and government affairs consultant based in Helena, Montana. Peggy spent fourteen years with the Montana Association of REALTORS®, first as the Government Affairs Director and later as CEO. Peggy also worked on the staffs of former Montana Congressmen Rick Hill and Ron Marlenee, as well as other state elected officials. She grew up in Big Timber, Montana and is a graduate of Montana State University with a B.A. in Political Science. She most recently represented the Montana Housing Coalition and the Treasure State Resources Association as a lobbyist during the 2017 Montana Legislative Session. Peggy is an active member of the Helena Kiwanis Club and works to support children in the community.

Jim Weber

Board Member

Jim Weber retired as the Senior Investigator and Montana Field Manager for the U.S. Department of Labor-ESA, after a career of over 30 years. He has been a NeighborWorks supporter for more than 25 years, one of the earliest board members for NWMT’s sister organization, NeighborWorks Great Falls, currently serving as Board President. He has served on the NWMT board in the past, and was re-appointed in 2011. Jim and his wife, Cascade County Commissioner Jane Weber, live in a NeighborWorks target neighborhood in Great Falls. He brings a sophisticated knowledge of all the products and services the NeighborWorks programs offer, a sense of history of the organization, and a strong understanding of how board governance works and the responsibilities of an effective board of directors. Jim also serves on the Great Falls Housing Authority board of directors.

Larry Williams

Board Member

Larry Larry Williams is President and Chief Operating Officer at Financial Education & Development, Inc. Prior to joining FED, Larry spent over 20 years working in community banking and economic development, specializing in lending, credit risk management, and developing others through mentoring and leadership. Most recently, Larry served as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Opportunity Bank of Montana.

Larry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a Finance emphasis from The University of Montana and a Graduate Degree in Banking from Pacific Coast Banking School. He is Past President of the Western Montana Chapter of the Risk Management Association and serves as a Director for NeighborWorks Montana, a nonprofit organization focused on providing affordable housing options to hardworking families across Montana. Larry is a frequent guest speaker for several nonprofit and adult education organizations and is a graduate of Leadership Helena and Leadership Missoula. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, camping, skiing, motorcycle riding, and taking in all that the great state of Montana has to offer.